Cost of living at LSE

Essex1985

mobb_theprequel

£30 a week doesn't quite approximate to a 'Wheat Crunchies and tap water existence'! With £30 - you could buy ready meals and a general shop for the week at Sainsbury's, and have a tenner to spare. Or you could eat in the canteen in the evenings and have cash for a lunchtime meal at the LSE - although sadly not in the Garrick.

I will only eat well at uni, and doing that comes before everything else after working for me 1st.

Waitrose only for me...I really don't think my loan is going to last.

Reply 41

mobb_theprequel

15

Lewis_986

I will only eat well at uni, and doing that comes before everything else after working for me 1st.

Waitrose only for me...I really don't think my loan is going to last.

Surprisingly, there aren't many Waitrose stores in Central London - I haven't observed any near the LSE or near halls. This is probably because they're behind the times as to my knowledge they haven't embraced the concept of express stores. There are several M&S Simply Food shops though - they're at most the major tube stations. But then again, if you're desperate, you could really do a disservice to the grungy student aesthetic (and get a Waitrose home delivery to halls).

Reply 42

Eru Lawliet

1

Ok let's get this straight. Apart from food and accommodation, how much does one spend on socializing?

Reply 43

e11even

10

About £70 a week, apparently :p:

Reply 44

Pinguin

lool

!

Reply 45

CNN Center

Fear not, you penniless creatures! I'm one myself and allow me to explain my monthly finances.

I live in University of London intercollegiate accommodation that provides me with breakfast and dinner on weekdays, and brunch and dinner on weekends. The rent is about 505 pounds per week.

If you REALLY wanna be thrifty, you can spend as little as 60 pounds (excluding rent) per MONTH. Yes, I kid you not. In fact, aside from rent, I spent only 53.20 pounds in January. I have my meals in hall, indulge myself once in a while with a nice meal out, nick bread everyday for lunch, watch movies with my neighbours and go out with my friends. So despite spending only 60 pounds a month, rest assured I still have a social life, thank you.

However, if you don't wish to battle over books at the library, then on some months, especially at the start of terms, you may spend more poring through Amazon's webpages.

How much you ultimately spend really depends on you.

Reply 46

zxczxc

11

CNN Center

The rent is about 505 pounds per week.

Reply 47

Traum

Pinguin

hm I think the undergraduate prospect says 1000 pounds a month but that'S WITH accommodation so I think it's about hm 500-550 pounds a month

that's is the precise reason why i'm reluctant to go to london... 1000+/month!!! Where are you gonna find this amount of money! :eek:

n with all that glitz n glamour of London i would have spent my whole year's money in the first month...

Reply 48

hongkongstudent

1000 pounds is way exaggerated, LSE just does it to make sure that you have more than enough money to survive.

Unless you go clubbing every single day at places like Cafe de Paris and whatever OR you're a shopping freak*, otherwise you won't manage to spend 1000...except maybe in your first month since books are expensive.

I currently get by on 700 pounds a month (incl. accommodation) and I'm not even trying at all. Admitedly I don't shop for clothing or anything (I hate shopping) but I do go out to eat a *lot* with friends and still I manage to get it at 700 a month. Only occasionaly when I have a strange spending urge do I go to ~850 a month.

I guess the trick to spending less is just to budget. I keep an Excel spreadsheet that records every single purchase I've spent here since coming (it's pretty long lol) from 20p Financial Times to 30 pounds dinners. All I do is set myself an arbitrary target of say 750 pounds a month and bingo~ I usually make it. (not that it takes any effort anyways) I have to say it's pretty rewarding to stay in the 'positive balance' lol~

*If you like to shop, then you'll find yourself easily in 1500 pounds a month expenditure...which is why I guess LSE came to the 1000/month recommended figure~

Reply 49

e11even

10

Originally Posted by CNN Center
The rent is about 505 pounds per week.

zxczxc

I echo that: :eek:

Lol, you meant £505 per month, didn't you? :p:

Reply 50

Eru Lawliet

1

CNN Center

Fear not, you penniless creatures! I'm one myself and allow me to explain my monthly finances.

I live in University of London intercollegiate accommodation that provides me with breakfast and dinner on weekdays, and brunch and dinner on weekends. The rent is about 505 pounds per week.

If you REALLY wanna be thrifty, you can spend as little as 60 pounds (excluding rent) per MONTH. Yes, I kid you not. In fact, aside from rent, I spent only 53.20 pounds in January. I have my meals in hall, indulge myself once in a while with a nice meal out, nick bread everyday for lunch, watch movies with my neighbours and go out with my friends. So despite spending only 60 pounds a month, rest assured I still have a social life, thank you.

However, if you don't wish to battle over books at the library, then on some months, especially at the start of terms, you may spend more poring through Amazon's webpages.

How much you ultimately spend really depends on you.

But what about phone bills?

Reply 51

Traum

hongkongstudent

*If you like to shop, then you'll find yourself easily in 1500 pounds a month expenditure...which is why I guess LSE came to the 1000/month recommended figure~

Peer pressure shopping is a killer...i.e. your friend picks out lots of stuff n then you'll feel all stupid not getting anything... :redface:

Deathscythe HG

But what about phone bills?

Use your MSN to contact all friends n go for the cheapest contract in the world (namely £5/month...)

Reply 52

CNN Center

I'm sorry, I meant 505 pounds a MONTH. LOL!

Oh my phone bills are included. I use pay-as-you-go and top 5 pounds up every month. Just ask people to call you instead! Or bloody hell, use MSN!

all right thanx!

£100 a week on average excluding educational stuff and travel (as i live in HH.)

varies week to week. last week was pricey as **** cus of vday and spring break.

Reply 55

Eru Lawliet

1

tiantang

£100 a week on average excluding educational stuff and travel (as i live in HH.)

varies week to week. last week was pricey as **** cus of vday and spring break.

educational stuff such as...? Books? Stationery?

Reply 56

tiantang

8

Deathscythe HG

educational stuff such as...? Books? Stationery?

Books bout £300-£400 per year on books.

Reply 57

Eru Lawliet

1

Jesus...that's an awful lot.

Reply 58

ÁňûβİŚ

1

e11even...ur location says brunei, borneo isl.

if im right, brunei is supposed to be among the richest countries in the world (PCI), where the sultan's got 100+ rolls royce (oh, and coupla dozen ferraris,astons & porsches..!)...i have even heard tht the sultan does not like poor people, so he makes them rich, if he sees one..? are these true..? and if y, then why do u want to live on 3 tenners a month?

Reply 59

valerious

2

oh i heard that since i was a little girl as well :biggrin:

is this true (curious girl)
anyway, if you dont go shopping, i know many can survive with £500/month,included rent.
i thought the library is supposed to provide enough books :frown:

cambridge has their book support funds

Cost of living at LSE

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